Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Skopje. No accusation is brought against the four Bulgarian drivers detained in Skopje. The Macedonian authorities in charge are inquiring the three Bulgarian trucks detained while transporting weapons without an escort and the necessary documents. Since the drivers are foreign citizens they should remain at the inquiry bodies’ disposal. Probably tomorrow it will be clear whether any accusations will be leveled against the Bulgarians. At Saturday’s court sitting in Skopje the Bulgarians were defended by official solicitors. The Bulgarian consul Ventsislav Tsvetanov was also present. The Bulgarian embassy assists the detainee and if the drivers want, other lawyers could be appointed, the Bulgarian embassy told Focus Agency. The embassy added that this is a routine procedure – the Macedonian bodies are inquiring because they doubted the legal nature of the deal. The Bulgarian drivers assured they had stuck to their duties and had the necessary documents stating the destination of the trucks. The drivers are not participants in arms smuggling or traffic. The Macedonian police work on some stories and will not give information until the inquest is not over. Currently nobody can tell when the drivers are to be released. The Macedonian authorities in charge should end their proceedings, the Bulgarian embassy keeps in touch with them and will not abandon the Bulgarians, the embassy stated. The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry has the entire information on the case.